5 Tips For Men on How To Be Better Allies To Women

One of the easiest ways to start to take part is to listen – really listen – to what women have to say. It sounds so simple, but often we are listening to respond – subconsciously preparing our answer, counter point, or rebuttal – instead of trying to understand the other person’s point of view.

This is a skill that is actively developed through Women for Women International’s couples' dialogue sessions – where husbands and wives have the opportunity to sit down and share how their lives look from different perspectives and create solutions together.

I saw the impact of this first-hand during my trip visiting the programme in Kosovo earlier this year and was inspired to see truly transformative change taking place before my eyes.

Picture this: it’s Friday night and you’re out enjoying the beginning of the weekend. Your friend shares a story about a woman he’s recently met and uses a blatantly sexist word to describe her. What do you do?

Whether it’s a sister, mother, daughter, partner – once we start thinking of these words being applied to people we know and care about it’s a game-changer

It can be uncomfortable to raise this – especially among friends – but the words we choose speak volumes (both literally and figuratively) about how we view women. They set the standard for what’s acceptable.

Chances are you’re not the only one thinking it and – whether it’s a sister, mother, daughter, partner – once we start thinking of these words being applied to people we know and care about it’s a game-changer.

Pause. Reflect. Be brave. Speak up. There will likely be resistance, especially if you're in a group and the person is put on the spot; it may be more effective to change the subject and find time to talk to the person on their own - and in a different setting.

Did you know that, according to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women across will experience sexual or physical violence at some point in their lives? Or that, according to the Global Partnership for Education, a woman is twice as likely as a man to be illiterate?

Amplifying your voice literally starts at the touch of a button. Start raising yours today.

The more we are able to educate ourselves about the facts of how gender inequality affects both men and women all over the world, the more firmly we can stand up for equality as making not only moral but also economic, social and political sense. When you gather and share these insights, you are using your voice to create a lasting impact.

One of the best things about living in the digital age? Amplifying your voice literally starts at the touch of a button. Start raising yours today.

There are many women writers who have penned fantastic books celebrating what empowerment means to them in all its diversity, honesty and dynamism. These books will inject some fearless and feminist voices into your daily life and expand your horizons.

If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend 50 Shades of Feminism edited by Lisa Appignanesi, Rachel Holmes and Susie Orbach. It's an anthology that brings together a unique array of contributors, from politicians to actors to scientists, who each reflect on what feminism means to them. Diversify - Six Degrees of Integration by June Sarpong also provides great motivation to start the day with a spur to action. Happy reading!

To create change, we need to fight a battle for gender equality on all fronts. You could choose to stand with one woman survivor of war as she completes Women for Women International's Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, or spread your support across an entire classroom over the next 12 months, and give women a life-changing opportunity.

Let’s stand together in raising the voices of women survivors of war

Your monthly support will provide women with the tools they need to rebuild their lives with a focus on their rights, economic empowerment and physical as well as emotional well-being.

Become a Stand With Her supporter today and together we can raise the voices of women survivors of war who have experienced the unimaginable.